Letters

Capital punishment: another view

Brendan Scheiner

Contents - Jul 2015 Laudato Si: Pope Francis’ call for “dialogue” on environmental challenges - Peter Westmore Family Synod: African bishops pledge to uphold Church teaching on marriage - AD2000 Report Culture: Magna Carta and Christianity: the inseparable links - Dr Augusto Zimmermann Religious freedom: Gay lobby targets Tasmania’s Archbishop Julian Porteous - AD2000 Report Marriage: The slippery slope to same-sex “marriage” - Anne Lastman Scripture: Ephphata! Be opened! (Mark 7:34) - Andrew Sholl Turin and Manoppello: “He has risen as he said ...” - Paul Badde Letters: “Our homeland is in heaven”: a response - Audrey English Letters: The Pope and “climate change” - Charles M. Shann Letters: Capital punishment: another view - Brendan Scheiner Letters: The Church and liberalism - Peter Gilet Letters: Don’t create a new stolen generation - Robert Bom Letters: Sexual abuse of children: a response - Anne Lastmen Books: THE MYTH OF HITLER’S POPE, by Rabbi David G. Dalin - Paul Simmons (reviewer) Books: THE CREED IN SCRIPTURE, by Stephen J. Binz - Paul Simmons (reviewer) Books: Contemplative Prayer: a New Framework, by Dom David Foster - Patrick Nolan (reviewer) Reflection: Benedict XVI acknowledges debt to St John Paul II - Pope Benedict XVI

I trust that the editor will give equal space in reply to Anne Lastman’s comment about the death penalty (Life Issues, June 2015 edition of AD2000). The following comment from Audio Sanctum in US gives it well:

www.audiosancto.org/sermon/20121006-Capital-Punishment-is-Consistent-with-Dignity-for-Life.html

However, since her comment is mostly emotional, let me add a comment as well.

How privileged the two Bali drug dealers, Andrew Chan and Myuran Sukumaran, knew the date and time of their meeting their Maker, were accompanied by their chosen pastor and had thousands praying for them. Far better than an accidental or unprepared death.

Note also, that Jesus himself chose the capital punishment of the day, with which to redeem mankind.

BRENDAN SCHEINER,
Kingswood, SA

Reprinted from AD2000 Vol 28 No 6 (July 2015), p. 9